For this month's cold process soap challenge, participants are tasked with crafting a soap that encapsulates the unique essence of their hometown. As a lifelong resident of Utah, I find myself surrounded by numerous remarkable aspects of this state. Among them, Arches, Zion, and Canyonlands National Parks have profoundly impacted me since my first visits as a young teenager in the early 1980s. These formative experiences are well-documented in countless old family vacation photographs.

The challenge guidelines specify that molds are restricted to slab or log designs, prohibiting vertical or individual cavity molds for the final soap. The primary soap composition must be cold process soap, although herbs and botanicals are permitted as embellishments, and melt and pour soap can be used for small embeds. A crucial aspect of participation is providing a narrative that explains the inspiration behind each created soap.

For my entry, I aim to capture the stunning beauty of Arches National Park. My approach involves molding a soap arch using the cold process method and embedding it within the final soap batch. Inspired by the exquisite hand-molded soap embeds crafted by Sorcery Soap, I consulted her blog for detailed instructions on this technique.

I initiated the process by preparing a small one-pound batch of cold process soap, which was then divided into six distinct colors.

For coloring, I utilized French yellow clay, Rhassoul clay, rose kaolin clay, Moroccan red clay, sea clay, and umber brown mica. To introduce textural elements, walnut shell powder was also incorporated.

Once thoroughly mixed, the colored soaps were poured into a mold. The following morning, they were unmolded and individually packaged in plastic bags, awaiting the hand-molding process for the arches.

These images serve as the visual inspiration for my soap, drawing directly from the iconic formations within Arches National Park.

My initial objective was to create nine arches. While the first three were enjoyable to craft, the process became progressively more laborious by the fifth arch, diminishing the initial enthusiasm. Consequently, I completed only six arches.

As evident from the images, each arch possesses a unique character, a testament to the nature of handmade craftsmanship. After allowing the embeds to dry overnight, I proceeded to create the main soap batch. My slab mold was prepared, utilizing only four of the twelve dividers due to the varying sizes of the handmade arches; they gradually increased in scale as I made each one. Additional flexible plastic craft sheeting was employed to create smaller dividers within each section, serving to delineate the sky and ground elements in the soap design.

The chosen colors were baby blue mica and titanium dioxide for a pot swirl effect to represent the sky, and brown oxide and red iron oxide for a similar pot swirl to depict the ground. After pouring these layers, the embeds were carefully placed. Each embed was then meticulously mica painted for additional detail, using sunset orange mica, red vibrance mica, umber brown mica, and ivory lace mica, all mixed with olive oil.

I found myself absorbed in the painting process, as it is often challenging to determine when a piece is truly complete. The following images display the wet soaps still within their molds.

The subsequent day involved trimming and beveling the edges, followed by an extensive photography session. Selecting the optimal arch soap for my challenge entry proved to be a difficult decision, as each piece possessed a distinct personality and unique appeal that held my attention for an extended period. Ultimately, with the invaluable assistance of my husband, a choice was made, preventing further deliberation.

Should the opportunity arise to visit Utah, I highly recommend exploring the national parks in the southern region of the state, particularly Arches National Park. Its captivating landscapes are truly mesmerizing.